I’m very fortunate to have taken after my dad’s side of the family. I have his height, fast metabolism, blue eyes, light hair, and sarcastic sense of humor, but if there’s one thing I wish I didn’t inherit from him, it’s my ridiculously round face. I can’t tell you how many people pinched my cheeks when I was a little girl, and while most people complain about certain foods going to their hips, cheese and chocolate always seem to go straight to my face.
I’m serious.
The good news is that I also inherited my dad’s curiosity and resourcefulness, and while I may not like that I carry most of my weight in my face, I’ve learned a lot of great tips over the years, and today I’m sharing 8 of my best beauty tricks to make your face look thinner.
1. GIVE YOUR HAIR SOME VOLUME
In addition to a round face, I was also blessed with hair that isn’t curly or straight, and that has a weird, frizzy kink to it, and have spent the last 20+ years applying serums and using various hot tools in an effort to make it as sleek, smooth, and straight as possible. The good news is that I could talk your ear off about the best products and techniques to get humid-resistant straight hair, but as it turns out, straight hair can actually make your face look WIDER if it’s not styled properly. Ideally, I try to add a bit of a curl to my locks to give it a little lift, but on the mornings I don’t have time to fuss about with my curling wand, I make sure to add a little Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse to my roots and blow dry my hair up and away from my face with a large, round brush. I then tease it at the hop and sides, and add a bit of hairspray so my hair doesn’t fall flat against my head as soon as I walk out the front door.
2. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EYEBROWS
If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you know that I am OBSESSED with my eyebrows. Why? Because thick, angular eyebrows make your face look longer and slimmer, and since I over-plucked my brows for the greater part of my 20s and early 30s, I spend a lot of time testing out different products and watching YouTube tutorials in an effort to make my eyebrows look thicker than they really are. To date, my list of must-have brow products are the Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. I also love the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow for days when I’m in a rush!
3. EMBRACE THE CAT EYE
I usually reserve the cat eye look for big nights out because I think it’s a bit too sexy for school drop-offs and pick-ups, but I recently discovered this makeup trend actually makes your face look slimmer by elongating and lifting your eyes. And if you think about it, it totally makes sense. By drawing attention to the corner of your eyes, you’re giving the illusion that your face is triangular in shape, which makes it look leaner.
If you want ideas for a more natural, everyday cat eye, check out this tutorial by LustreLux.
The eyeliner is a bit heavy for me, but I really love the overall look and product recommendations. And if you’re looking for an affordable eyeshadow palette that is subtle enough for everyday, check out the Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Makeup Palette. I love mine!
4. LEARN HOW TO CONTOUR AND HIGHLIGHT
A little bronzer and highlighter can go a LONG WAY in defining your cheekbones, jawline, and nose. It takes a little bit of practice, but with the right products and brushes, you can transform your face in a matter of minutes.
I recently splurged on Benefit Cosmetics Hoola, which I love because it looks much more natural than the drugstore products I used to use, but for me, it was more about having the right brushes and learning the correct techniques. I swear by my NARS Ita Kabuki Brush No. 21, and Jaclyn Hill really breaks down everything you need to know in the tutorial above.
5. OPT FOR DARKER HAIR COLORS
After strategically hiding my grey hair without permanent hair dye for a few years, I finally took the plunge and got highlights, and it has made such a difference in my face shape. As my stylist explained to me, lighter hair tends to make your face look wider, and while my complexion doesn’t lend itself to brown or black hair, strategically placing low lights throughout my locks has given the illusion that my face is thinner than it really is. Make sure to ask your stylist about this trend next time you go in for a cut and color – you will be amazed at what a difference the proper color can make!
6. GROW OUT YOUR BANGS
About a year before I got pregnant with my daughter, I decided to cut short, blunt bangs, and it was perhaps one of the worst decisions I’ve made in my adult life. It added a good 20 minutes to my morning routine, I was constantly going for hair trims, and as one of my coworkers nicely pointed out when I got pregnant, it made my face look wider, especially while the were growing out. The good news is that long, face-framing layers have the opposite effect, especially when they fall below your chin.
7. WEAR LONG, DANGLY JEWLERY
I recently started playing around with accessories, and through a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned that long earrings can go a long way in making your face look thinner because they draw your eyes downwards. Long necklaces can also make a difference as they make your neck look longer and slimmer. Who knew?!
8. DRAW ATTENTION TO YOUR EYES
My final tip for making a round face look slimmer is to spend a little extra time on your eye makeup. The more your eyes pop, the more attention they’ll get, leaving your admirers less time to notice the imperfections of your face. So grab that eyeliner and mascara, and practice your cat eye techniques because your hard work will pay off!